The 2015/16 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid are geared up to kick-start their title defence with a home game against Portuguese side Sporting CP.
Since the competition was changed to it’s present format of group stages, no team has managed to retain the elusive UEFA Champions League title. Defending champions Real Madrid would want to be the first team in 26 years to break the jinx and successfully keep hold of their crown. It took Los Blancos a penalty shoot-out to get the job done over Atletico Madrid in the final of last year’s competition.
They begin their title defence at home to Portuguese side Sporting CP. Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo first made his name at Sporting and will be raring to face off against his former side.
Sporting finished last season as runners-up in their domestic league, which is why they were not in Pot 1 of the Champions League draw. They will be returning to Europe’s elite club competition after a one season break.
In their last Champions League appearance in 2014/15, they failed to get past the group stages. In fact, in their past six appearances in the competition, they have managed to make it to the Round of 16 on just one occasion.
Possible Lineups and Tactics
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane hinted at the possibility of a Morata and Benzema pairing, but by the looks of things, the Spaniard will be given the nod over the Frenchman. Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are expected to play on the left and right flanks respectively, and will look to pose a threat to Bruno Cesar and Joao Pereira.
In midfield, Zidane’s preferred trio of Kroos, Casemiro and Modric look set to be deployed. Modric has been in sublime form in Spain’s top tier and will be hoping to replicate his performance on the European stage.
Raphael Varane has started in two of Madrid’s three games in La Liga this season and looks to be the preferred option to pair with Sergio Ramos at the heart of the defence. Marcelo and Carvajal will be deployed on either side of them with Kiko Casilla in the Madrid goal.
Real Madrid team: Casilla; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Morata, Ronaldo.
Bas Dost and Alan Ruiz will be spearheading the Sporting attack with creative geniuses Adrien Silva and William Carvalho playing in and around them. Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell will be looking to impress his new employers and will pose substantial threat down Sporting’s right flank.
The Portuguese side’s weakness lies in its defence and will undoubtedly be exploited by the Real Madrid attackers. Centre-backs Sebastian Coates and Jose Semedo are not the paciest and may struggle to keep up with the likes of Bale and Ronaldo.
Sporting CP team: Patricio; Pereira, Semedo, Coates, Cesar; Gelson, Silva, Carvalho, Campbell; Dost, Ruiz.
Stats
- Real Madrid and Sporting last squared off in the Champions League in the 2000/01 season.
- The two sides shared the spoils in the first group game, while Madrid won the second by a 4-0 scoreline.
- Sporting have a poor record in Spain and haven’t won in any of their 10 visits to the country (D3, L7).
- Real Madrid are unbeaten in 9 home matches against clubs from Portugal (W8, D1).
- Ronaldo is the leading goal scorer in the Champions League with 93 strikes to his name.
Watch out for
Gareth Bale
With Ronaldo already 31, it may be the season for Gareth Bale to take over the burden from his Madrid teammate. After moving to Spain, the Wales international has grown from strength to strength to become a key player for Los Blancos.
Zidane has put his faith on him and has molded Bale into a better player. All eyes will be on him in Wednesday’s game and the home fans will be hoping for him to put in an exceptional performance.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Sporting CP
Given the quality Real Madrid possess among their ranks, a home game against Sporting should not be a Herculean task. The likes of Ronaldo, Bale and Modric have already made good starts to the season and are expected to continue their good run of form in the Champions League as well.